Mackenzie Wolverton mackenzi.wolverto@smail.astate.edu Dyslexia Mackenzie Wolverton mackenzi.wolverto@smail.astate.edu

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What is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning disability characterized by problems in expressive or receptive oral and written language. Problems with dyslexia may emerge in reading, spelling, writing, speaking, or listening. Dyslexia is NOT a disease. Dyslexia is NOT laziness. Dyslexia is NOT low intelligence.

The Causes of Dyslexia Genes and Hereditary Brain Anatomy Dyslexia often runs in the family. Parents who have dyslexic children have a 49% chance of having it as well. Brain Anatomy The planum temporale is responsible for understanding language. It is typically larger in the dominant hemisphere than the right hemisphere. If a child has dyslexia, the planum temporale will be the same size on both hemispheres. Brain Activity To be able to read, our brains have to translate the symbols on the page. Normally, the areas of our brains responsible for language skills work in a predictable way. If a child has dyslexia, those areas do not work in a predictable way. The child will use different areas of the brain to compensate.

What to Look For Preschool and Kindergarten Grade School and Middle School Has trouble recognizing the letters of the alphabet Struggles to match letters to sounds, such as not knowing what sounds b or h make Has difficulty blending sounds into words, such as connecting C-H-A-T to the word chat Struggles to pronounce words correctly, such as saying “mawn lower” instead of “lawn mower” Has difficulty learning new words Has a smaller vocabulary than other kids the same age Has trouble learning to count or say the days of the week and other common word sequences Has trouble rhyming Struggles with reading and spelling Confuses the order of letters, such as writing “left” instead of “felt” Has trouble remembering facts and numbers Has difficulty gripping a pencil Has difficulty using proper grammar Has trouble learning new skills and relies heavily on memorization Gets tripped up by word problems in math Has a tough time sounding out unfamiliar words Has trouble following a sequence of directions

Skills Affected by Dyslexia Social Skills Child can feel inferior to others. May avoid group activities. Child may have problems understanding jokes or sarcasm. The parent can help the child decode humor and try different strategies to boost self esteem. Listening Comprehension It can be difficult for the child to filter out background noise. Sitting near the teacher can help. Memory It can take long for a child to read a sentence that they may not remember a sentence that came before it. Navigation Children with dyslexia can have trouble with spatial concepts. Knowing the difference between “right” and “left” is difficult.

How can Parents be Involved? It is important for parents to contact the child’s pediatrician if they have concerns about the child’s development. Parents should also meet with the child’s teachers and school to come up with ways to help the child get the best education possible. Work well with the child’s teacher! The child will feel supported. Teach the child how to help themselves.

What can the School do? Child’s Teacher Reading Specialist Accommodations These might include giving extra time on tests or letting your child use high-tech tools like word- prediction software. Informal Support Set up a meeting to figure out concerns. Have children repeat directions back to the teacher. Reading Specialist Public schools have reading specialists who work with children one-on-one. Can help the child focus on improving reading skills. Child’s Doctor Dyslexia can take a toll on the child’s self esteem, which can lead to anxiety and depression. This can make school more difficult for an already struggling learner. Seeing a psychologist can help the student manage the stress. Parent Advocates Every state has a parent advocacy center. The parents have learned how to navigate the education system. They are staffed by parents who have children with dyslexia. They can help prepare for school meetings.

What Can be Done at Home? Read out loud everyday. Use audio books. Look for apps and other high tech help. Observe the child and take notes. Focus on effort and not outcome. Tap into the child’s interests. Boost the child’s confidence.

How Common is Dyslexia? Dyslexia is the most common learning disability. Dyslexia is more common among boys than girls. 17% of school aged children are diagnosed with dyslexia. 85% of children with learning disabilities have dyslexia alone or with another condition. 40% of children with dyslexia will have a relative with the same disability.

How to Make the Journey Easier Dyslexia can present challenges for your child and for you. But with the proper support, almost all people with dyslexia can become accurate readers. The parent’s involvement will help tremendously. Connect with other parents. You are not alone in this. Find other parents that you can talk with. Build a support plan. Come up with a game plan and anticipate what lies ahead.

References http://dyslexia.yale.edu/PAR_10thingstohelpchild.html https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning- disabilities/dyslexia/understanding-dyslexia http://www.medicinenet.com/dyslexia/page4.htm#what_should_parents_or_caregivers_do_if_they_suspect _a_child_has_the_signs_and_symptoms_of_dyslexia https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/child-learning-disabilities/dyslexia/dyslexia-by- the-numbers http://www.chronicdiseases.info/what-can-make-the-journey-easier-in-dyslexia/